Electric switch



L. KELLNER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 050.3, IIIII.

1,354,758. Patented OCI. 5,1920.r

9 .59 III IIIIIIIIIII I INVENTOR ATTORNEY L. KELLNER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 050.3. 1917.

1,354,758. Patented oct. 5,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m' I /f/ ///////////////////////////l/ //,//l j ATTORNEY L. KELLNER.'ELicTRIC swITcH. APPLICATION FILED DEC.3. 191?.

famed oct. 5, 1920.

3 SHEETS-suffe.

INVENTOR uw 214,-/

ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

lLOUIS KELLNER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specicaton of Letters Fatent.

Application filed December 3. 1917. Serial No. 205,139.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Louis KELLNER, a citizenof the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in ElectrioSwitches, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in manually operable electricswitches.

One of the principal objects of the inventionis to provide a switchhaving a recip- `rocable contact-carrying member adapted to bcreciprocated with a rapid or snap action to make and break the circuitupon swinging or rotating an operating lever or switch handle. v

A further object is to provide means whereby the reciprocablecontact-carrying member will only be shifted when the actuating leverlias been moved to substantially the limit of its throw, thus preventingaccidental making or breaking ofthe circuit through an accidental orcareless movement of the switch lever.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a switch soconstructed and arranged that access to the fuse plugs is impossibleexcept when the switch has been operated to break the circuit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch having areciprocable contact and fuse plug carrying member operable with a snapaction by a swinging lever, the entire switch beinginclosed within acasing having a cover ,permitting access to the switch lever, and thefuse plugs being inclosed within an inner casing held to thereciprocable member, the inner and outer casings being so constructedthat the inner casing can only be opened when the switch lever has beenswung to break the circuit,

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the switchtaken on the line I-I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 a sectional plan taken on the line II--II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 a longitudinal section on the line IILIH of Fig. 4, the partsbeing shown in position to close the circuit;

Fig. 4 a vertical central transverse section, the parts being shown inposition to break the circuit;

Fig. 5 a fragmentary sectional plan taken through the fuse box;

Figs. 6, 7 and are fragmentary sectional views showing the positionsassumed by the operating mechanism when the switch lever has been movedto break the circuit, when the lever is in an intermediate position, andwhen the lever has been moved to close the circuit, respectively;

Fig. 9 a fragmentary vertical section showing the vrack and segment forshifting the reciprocable switch member;

Figs. 10 and 11 detail views of a part of the operating mechanism;

Figs. 12 and 13 detail views of another part of the operating mechanism,and Fig. 14 a detail view illustrating the operation of setting thelatch-releasing device 45 during an initial movement of the operatinghandle.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, the switch is mounted on asuitable base 1, which may be formed of porcelain or other suitablematerial, and the entire switch mechanism is inclosed within a boxlikeouter casing, preferably formed of sheet metal and held to the base 1 inany suitable manner. The casing is formed with side walls 2, end walls3, and a cover 4 hinged to one of the end walls at 5.

Two'vertically extending frame members or plates 6 and 7 are held attheir ,lower ends substantially centrally of the base 1, said membersbeing preferably connected by an integral base plate 8 fastened upon theupper face of the base 1 by vsuitable screws 9.

lThe frame plates 6 and 7 are connected adliacent their upper ends by arod 10 on which is rotatably mounted a sleeve 11 having reduced angularend portions 12 and 13. The sleeve'11 is adapted to be oscillated by asii/'inging switch handle or lever 14 havan angular opening or socketthrough vwhich the reduced end portion 12 of the sleeve extends. A disk15 is mounted on the reduced angular end portion 13 of sleeve Y11, saiddisk being formed with a central Patented oet. 5, 1920.Y

. path of the stop shoulders 17 and 18 lby a suitable fiat spring 22held to the frame member 6. l

A disk 23 is loosely mounted on the rod l() adjacent the outer face ofdisk 15, and a mu. tilateol gear wheel or segment 24 is held to theouter face of disk 23 to rotate therewith by means of suitable pins ,orrivets 25. The teeth of the gear wheel 24 mesh with the kteeth ofV arack 26 formed at one side of a vertically extending elongated opening27 in a bracket 2.8,. The bracket or plate 28 is held at its lower endby screws 29, to the upper face of a reciprocable block 30 formed ofinsulating material. The block 30 and bracket 28 are guided verticallythe block being provided with openings 31 through which the frame plates6 and 7 extend, and

the bracket being yprovided lwith an outwardly projecting pin or lug 32working in an elongated slot 33 formed in the frame plate 7. The pin 32serves also to limit the upward movement vof the blocky 3.0 and theparts mountedthereon. Y

A spring .34 is coiled about the 'sleeve 11 and the `opposite ends 35and 36 of said spring project .outwardly at one side of the sleeve indifferent horizontal planes. The switch lever 14 is provided with aninwardly projecting pin 37 extending between the ends 35 and 36 ofspring 34, and the disk 23 is provided with van oppositely projectingpin 38 extending between the ends. of said spring. The disk23 is cutaway through slightly more than half its periphery to form stopshoulders 39 and 40 adapted to engage latch 19 in the same manner asshoulders 17 and'18 of .disk 15, and said disk 23 is also formed withoppositely disposed notches 41 andv 42 in which the upper edge of latch19 is ,adapted to engage to hold the disk 23 against rotation until thelatch is released as hereinafter described. The latch 19 is adapted tobe disengaged from notch 41 and notch 42 bythe inclined or cam-shapedends 43 and 44 of an arcuate oscillating releasing Vmember 45 pivotallyheld at 46 to the inner vface of disk 15. The disk 15 is provided `with.two lugs or stop pins 47 and 48 and the arcuate releasing member 45 is`adapted to be rocked about its pivot 46 and held against said stop pinsalternately to alternately project the cam ends 43 and 44, re-

spectively,.beyond the periphery of the cutaway portion of .disk 15 inposition to depress latch 1.9 and disengage said latch from notches 41and 42'in disk 23, 'as hereinafter described Thev member 45 is Vadaptedto be held against either of the stops47 and 48 by a fiat spring 49 heldat one end to disk 1.5 in any suitablemanner and formed with van offsetportion 50 adapted to engage against vopposite sides ef Ya projection 51tfprmed on the member- 45 adjacent the pivot r46i of said member.

' opposite ends of said plugs being detachably held in two pairs ofsuitable spring metal clips 53 and 54. Two pairs of contact brushes 55and 56 are held to the under side of block 30 and electrically connectedwith the pairs of fuse-holdingclips 53 and 54, respectively, by screwsor bolts 57 and 58, the ends of the brushes preferably fitting incut-away portions of the block 30, as shown. The outer ends of thebrushes 55 are adapted to engage with contacts 59 held to the base 1,and the ends of brushes 56 are adapted to engage contacts 60 held tosaid base to complete the circuit through the switch when block 30 isdepressed, as hereinafter d escribed,

The fuse plugs 52 are inclosed within a divided inner casing, the twohalves 61 and 62 of whichare hinged to rods 63 and 64 supported in theopposite ends of a pair of bars 65, preferably countersunk in oppositesides of block 3.0 and held thereto by screws 66` The parts 61 and 62 ofthe casing may be 4provided with interlocking portions or latches 67, ifdesired. The outercasing is divided into upper and lower compartments bya false bottom or horizontally extending partition 68 having a centralopening 69 therethrough to permit the passage of the fuse casing andblock 30 through said partitioniwhen the switch lever 14 is operated, asmore fully hereinafter described. Y

To operate the switch to close the circuit, the switch iever 14is swungthrough an arc of substantially 189O from the position shown in Figs. 1and 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Referring more particularly toFigs. 6 to 9, it will be observed that as the lever 14 is thrown over,the sleeve 11 and disk 15 are rotated in a clockwise directionv whileVdisk 23 is held stationary by latch 19 which is engaged in notch 41 indisk 23, and it will also be seen that spring 34 isrwound or placedunder tension by pin 37A on lever 14, which forces the end 35 of saidspring before it as thelever is swung tothe right. It will be observedalso that the inclined or cam end 44 of releasing member 45 is inprojected position with its rear. face 44a in position to engage latch19 during the initial movement of the switch handle. As the rear face44a rides overulatch 19 the releasing member' 45 will be rocked aboutits pivot 46, as spring 22 is stronger than spring 49;,thus forcing theprojection 51 to the opposite side of projection 50 on spring .49,retractingcani end releasing member 45 engages latch 19, as shown inFig. 7, depressing said latch and releasing disk 23 which is rapidlyrotated in a clockwise direction by reason of the engagement of the end36 of spring 34 under pin 38 on disk 23. The rapid-movement of disk 23imparts asimilar rapid semi-revolution to the mutilated gear or segment24 meshing with rack 26, thus rapidly projecting or forcing bracket 28,block 30, and parts carried thereby, downwardly into the position shownin Figs. 3 and 8, in which position the pairs of brushes 55 and 56engage the pairs of contacts 59 and 6() and close the circuit throughthe switch. The latch 19 is preferably beveled at each side of its upperedge at the points where said latch is engaged by the cam ends of thereleasing member 45 to form a cam surface having its apex or highestpoint substantially centrally of the upper edge of the latch. 1t willthus be seen that it is practically impossible for the switch lever tobe held or to remain in a position to hold the latch 19 in its fullydepressed or releasing position as the high point or rear end of cam end44 cannot be held or dwell upon the apex of the cam portion 70 of thelatch. It will be seen, therefore, that the instant disk 23 is movedthrough half a revolution as above described to force the laminatedspring-metal contacts 55 and 56 into close engagement with the contacts59 and 60, the latch 19 will snap into notch 42 in disk 23 andpositively lock said disk against rotation. This construction isespecially advantageous since the locking device is free to actinstantly upon the completion of the circuit-closing movement,independently of any subsequent movement of the switch handle, thuspositively locking the actuating mechanism against rebounding or areturn movement under the influence of back pressure due to compressionof the sprino' contacts 55 and 56. This is a feature of importance,l notonly because it insures holding the contacts in firm engagement, butalso because it insures locking of the mechanism inA order to enablepower to be stored for a subsequent', operation of the switch handle tobreak the circuit with a snap action, andV prevents rebounding orreverse rotation of the parts to a point at which the locking mechanismcannot act.

At the completion of the circuit-closing operation just described theparts assume the position shown in Fig. 8, with the rear edge 43a of acam end 43 projected into'position to engage and ride over latch 19during the initial movement of the switch handle toward the left tobreak the circuit. The circuit-breaking operation is the reiA/erse ofthe operation just described and is thought to be obvious.

yFrom the foregoing it .will be observed that the switch lever may beswung substantially the full length of its throw without moving the4brush-carrying block 30; that the movable contact member is operatedwith a rapid reciprocatory snap action to close the circuit as well asto break the circuit; and that the entire switch mechanism is inciosedwithin a protecting casing.

1t will also be seen that the fuse plugs are incloscd in a box or casingwhich is shifted into the lower .compartment of the switch casing whenthe circuit is closed, and that the fuse box is so constructed that thehinged covers or sections thereof cannot be swung upwardly to permitaccess to the fuses when the circuit is closed, the false bottom 68being so positioned as to prevent the hinged sections 61 and G2 of thefuse boX from being swung upwardly and outwardly except when the switchis in olf position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, in which position thefuse box is projected above the false bottom or partition 68. It will benoted furtherthat the switch cannot be moved to on position with thehinged sections of the fuse box in open position as said sections willbe swung upwardly and inwardly to closed position when the block 30moves downwardly by reason of the engagement of the partition 68 withthe end walls of said sections, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.The cover 4 of the outer casing may also be pro- .vided with a suitablelocking means to prevent unauthorized access to the switch lever 14,ifdesired It will also be observed that the operating mechanism ispositively locked immediately upon) the completion of its movement ineither direction to prevent rebounding and to insure the setting orlocking of the parts in position to perform a subsequent operation.

VVhat 1 claim is:

1. In an electric switch, the combination of stationary contacts,movable contact-bridging means, a rotary element operatively connectedto shift the contact-bridging means into engagement with the stationarycontacts when rotated in one direction and to shift said means to breakthe circuit when rotated in the opposite direction, a coiled springhaving laterally Vprojecting end portions, an arm on sai d rotaryelement eisten ding between the end portions of the spring, a switchhandle capable of rotary movement in either direction independently ofsaid elcment, an arm on said handle extending between the ends of thespring, a spring pressed latch for automatically locking said rotaryelement in both its on and off positions, and means operable by saidhandle for releasing said latch after a predetermined movement of thehandle in either direction In an electric switch, the combination ofstationary contacts, movable Vcontactb'ridging means, an elementrotatable in opposite directions and operatively connected to shiittsaid bridging means to on and oit position, a handle rotatable inopposite direltions iiidependentiy of said element, a

-coiled motor spring having projecting ends,

of stationary contacts, movable contactbridging means, an elementrotatable in opposite directions and operatively connected to shift thebridging means to on and off positions, said element being formed withtwo spaced recesses, a spring pressed latch adapted to engage in saidrecesses alternately, a handle rotatable in opposite directionsindependently of said element, a coiled motor spring having projectingends, arms carried by said element and handle extending between the endsor" the spring, a rockable releasing device rotatablewith said handleone end of which is adapted to release said latch from one of saidnotches and the other end of which is adapted to release `the latch fromthe other of saidnotches, and

means for rocking said device upon an initial movement of the handle toposition the same to release the latch after a predetermined movement ofthe handle. Y

t. In anelectric switch, the combination of stationary contacts, movablecontactbridging means, an .element rotatable in .opposite directions forshifting said bridging means to on and oii positions, a motor spring, aswitch handle rotatable in oppositek directions to store power in saidspring to rotate said element, a latch for locking said elementagainstrotation, a latch releasing device movable with the handle and shiftablerelativelythereto, and means whereby said releasing device is shiftedrelatively to the handleby engagement with said latch during the'initialmovement ofthe handle into position to release said latch after akpredetermined additional movement thereof with the handle.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of stationary contacts,contact-bridging means, a rack held to vsaid bridging means,

a pinion meshing with said rack, a coiled spring, a handle rotatable inopposite directions independently of said pinion, means forautomatically locking 'Said pinion against rotation in both the on and-o'positions of said bridging means, connections between Vsaid springand the handle and pinion for storing power in said spring for rotatingthe pinion in the direction ot'movement of the handle, and means movablewith the handle for releasing the pinion after a predetermined riovementof the handle in either direction. Y Y

6. Inan electric switch, the combination of stationary contacts,contact-bridging means, a rack held to said bridging means, a-pinionmeshing with said rack, an element rotatable with said pinion inopposite directions, said element being Jformed with two spacedrecesses, a spring-pressed latch V adapted to engage in said recessesalternately, a handle rotatable in opposite directions independently ofsaid element, a coiled spring, connections between said spring and thehandle and rotatable element for storing power in the spring to rotatesaid element and pinion when the handle is moved in either direction, areleasing device rotatable with the handle and having a relative rockingmovement, and means for rocking said device upon an initial movement ofthe handle in either direction to position the same to release the latchafter a predetermined movement of the handle.

7. In an electric switch, the combination of a swinging switch lever,means for limiting the throw vofsaid lever to and from cirvciiit closingposition, reciprocable circuitclosing means, a rack and pinion forreciprocating saidV circuit-closing means toward and fromcircuit-closing position, power-operated means for rotating said pinvionin either direction, and means controlled by said` switch lever forcausing said power-operated means to rotate said pinion in oppositedirections as the switch lever approaches the opposite limits of itsthrow.

8. In an electric switch, the combination of stationary contacts,contact bridging means, a rack held to said bridging means,

a lined shaft, a pinion loose on' said shaft meshing with said rack, adisk rotatable on said shaft in opposite directions with said pinion'and'having twoV spaced notches in its periphery, a spring-pressedpivoted latchlever adapted to engage in said notches alternately, asleeve rotatable in opposite directions on saidshatt independently ofAsaid disk, a handle held to said sleeve, a

motor spring coiled about said sleeve, connections between said springand the disk and handle for storing power in said spring to rotate thedisk in the direction of rotation of the handle when the handle is movedin either` direction, a second vdisk held to rotate with the sleeve,areleasing lever pivvoted intermediate its ends on said second disk,each `end of said lever being adapted to move the latch lever out of oneof said notches in the first disk after a predetermined movement of thehandle and to be shifted into position to operate the latch by movementof the opposite end of the releasing lever over the latch lever duringthe initial movement of the handle, and means for releasably holding thereleasing lever in its adjusted positions.

9. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch handlevrotatablein opposite directions, reciprocable contact-bridging means, stationarycontacts, a rack for reciprocating said bridging means, a pinion meshingwith said rack, a motor spring adapted to rotate said pinion in eitherdirection, means actuated by movement of the handle in either directionfor storing power in said spring, means for normally holding the pinionagainst rotation, and means for releasing the pinion as the handleapproaches the limit of its movement in either direction.

l0. In an electric switch of the snap action type, the combination ofV aswinging switch lever, contact-bridging means, means for limiting thethrow of said lever, a motor spring, means actuated by the movement ofsaid lever in either direction to place said spring under tension, meansactuated by said motor spring and embodying a racl and pinion forshifting said contactbridging means toward and from circuitclosingposition, means for locking said pinion against rotation, and meansmovable with said lever for releasing said locking means as the lever`approaches the limit of its throw in either direction.

ll. ln an electric switch, the combination of circuit-closing means, anelement rotatable in opposite directions for shifting saidcircuit-closing means to on and oil p0- sitions, a switch handle, powermechanism for rotating said element, a latch for locking said elementagainst rotation in both the on and off positions of the circuitclosingmeans, means controlled by the handle for storing power in saidmechanism, latch releasing cam means rotatable relatively to saidelement by the handle, and means for automatically shifting said cammeans independently of the handle during successive movements of thehandle to present. two different parts of said cam means alternately inposition to release said latch.

l2. ln an electric switch, the combination oi circuit-closing means, anelement rotatable in opposite directions for shifting saidcircuit-closing means to con and o' positions, a switch handle, powermechanism for rotating said element, a latch for locking said elementagainst rotation in both the on and o positions of the circuit-closingmeans, means controlled by the handle tor storing power in saidmechanism, and latch releasing cam means rotatable bodily in eitherdirection by the handle relatively to said element and shiftable byengagement with the latch during such rotation to set said cam means inposition to release said latch after a further movement of the handle.

ln an electric switch, the combination of circuit-closing means, anelement rotatable in opposite directions for shitting saidcircuit-closing means to Con and ot po- Sitions, a switch handle, powermechanism tor rotating said element, a latch ter locking said elementag. nst rotation in both the on and off positions ot the circuit-closingmeans, means controlled by the handle iorstoring power in saidmechanism, and latch releasing means revoluble in opposite directions bythe handle and having cam suriaces at opposite ends thereof, said latchreleasing means being shiftable automatically dnring r volntion thereoilin either direction by the engagement of one end of the latch releasingmeans with the latch to present the cam snrlace at the opposite end oisaid means in position to release the latch after said releasing meanshas been revolved a predetermined extent.

la. ln an electric switch, the combination oi shiftable circuit-closingmeans, a motor spring, rack and pinion means operable by said motorspring to shift said circuit-closing means to on and off positions, alatch adapted to automatically lock said circuit-closing means in bothits on and oit positions, a switch handle shiftable in differentdirections, means controlled by said handle 'for storing power in saidmotor spring to actuate the rack and pinion mechanism, and cam meansrevoluble in opposite directions by said handle for releasing said latchafter a power storing movement of the handle in either direction.

l5. In an electric switch, the combination of shiitable circuit-closingmeans, a motor spring, racl and pinion means operable by said motorspring to shiit said circuit-closing means to on and oli positions, alatch adapted to automatically look said circuit-closing means in bothits on and off positions, a switch handle shittable in dili'erontdirections, means controlled by said handle for storing power in saidmotor spring to actuate the rack and pinion mechanism, and cam meansrevoluble in opposite directions by the handle and shiiitableautomatically independently of the handle by engagement with the latchduring movement of the handle in either direction to set said cam meansin position to release said latch after a further movement of the handlein the same direction.

16. In an electric switch of the snap-action type, the combination ot amotor spring, reciprocable circuit-closing means, means embodying a rackand pinion for projecting said circuit-closing means With a snap actiontoward and from circuit-closing position7 power-operated means forrotating said pinion in either direction7 manually operable meansadapted to be rotated in opposite directions, means for limiting theextent of the rotary movement of saidmanually controllcd means in eitherdirection, and means controlled by said manually rotatable means forcausing said power-operated Vmeans to rotate said pinion in oppositedirections as said rotatable means approaches the limits or' its rotarymovement. Y

17. In an electric switch of theY snap-action type, the combination ofcontact-bridging means, acoiled motor spring7 rotatableV means adaptedto place said spring under tension when -rotated in either direction,means actuated by Vsaid vmotor spring and embodying a rack and-pinionforreciprocating said contact-bridging means toward and fromcircuit-closing position, means for locking said pinion againstrotation, and means kcontrolled by said rotatable means for releasingthe pinion at the conclusion of the power-storing movement of saidrotatable means. c

n testimony Wh'ereoic hereunto affix my signature.

LOUIS KELLNER.

